Molding-machine



(No Model.) '1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- R. SAVAGE.

MOLDING MACHINE. No. 349,815. PatentedSepKZS, 1886.-

ny n H H H [I U I U U I] U U N. PEIE'RS. PhckbLifimgmphM. walhingion, n. c.

2 Sheets-Shed 2;

(No Model.) Y I R. SAVAGE.

- MOLDING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

q WE w :55. a s R. k. N. -w .v IR k 1: ||t i112. Q N n i q UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD SAVAGE, or sAurnANCIsCo, CALIFORNIA.

MOLDING-MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,8] 5, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed March 31, 1885. Serial No. 100.5130. (No model.)

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for the 'making of molds for castings.

It consists of a directing-chute, having front and rear walls and side walls, a, into which the sand is received from a hopper above; a joint or joints at some portion of the length of the chute, so that it may be deflected to direct the sand into different parts of the flask beneath; a series of two or more chutes, formed by placing chutes side by side, or by placing vertical partitions in one long chute, so that diflerent flasks may be filled beneath the different sections; a means for supplying sand to the hopper, and regulating-gates by which the supply may be cut off from any one or more of the sections, as will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken through XX, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rollers and clutch mechanism enlarged. Fig. 4 is a view of the flask and cross-bars.

A is a chute having front and rear walls and side walls, a, which is placed nearly or quite vertical, and is of snfflcient height, so that sand falling through it will attain m0- mentum enough to impact itself and become solid in the flask where it falls. The lower sections, B, of the chute are fitted in sockets, as shown at C, so that they may be turned to a small angle with the main portion of the chute, thus directing the sand to one side or the other of a vertical plane without too greatly impeding its momentum. The advantage of this constructionthat is, having a chute inclosed on all sideslies, first, in the fact that it keeps the sand in a more compact body, and prevents itbeing scattered by the resistance of the air, which would occur if it were caused to slide down the inclined plane with one side exposed, as under such conditions the open air upon one side would offer a certain resistance, which objection is overcome in my chute. Another advantage is that it may be moved from one side to the other over the flask ormold below, and may incline to either side of the perpendicular, as the sand is guided by either side of the chute.

D is a flask, which is made in the usual manner, to containthe pattern of the article to be cast, and it is mounted upon a carriage or truck, E, so that it may be easily moved be-' neath the chute or withdrawn from it after the mold is finished.

In order to insure the sand being filled in solid in every portion of the flask, the crossbars F are made of thin iron or other sheet metal. These cross-bars are either perforated with holes, or they may be corrugated or have projections, so that the sand will unite through and around them,and thus become a solid mass after the flask is filled. By making these thin plates with their edges presented to the falling body of sand they do not in any way impede it, and it falls so as to pack thoroughly without any necessity oftuckin g or pressing it down under the bars with the fingers, which must be done when the ordinary wooden bars are used.

This construction enables -me to employ the chute and the force of gravitation to form the molds in the flask, which could not otherwise be done. By means of the jointed section itis possible to direct thersand to any part of a flask of reasonable size without moving the whole chute,which would be a difficult operation on account of its height and bulk. If, however, the flask be too long or too wide for this operation, it will be seen that the truck or carriage upon which it is mounted may be moved while the flask is being filled, so that all parts of the work can be completed. The upper end of thechute A is made hopper or diverging shaped, and above it is fixed a receptacle or hopper, G, from which sand is delivered into the chute by means of a swinging gate, H, and a feed-roller,J, having teeth,

flanges, or projections K, and which maybe provided with a series of cleaning-arms,- this operation being more full y described in another application for a patent which I have made bearing the same date as the present one.

' The hopper G and chute A may have as great a lengthin a horizontal direction as may be desired, so that several flasks can beplaced beneath it at one time; and in order to separate the work, so that the different flasks can be filled independently, I divide the chute and hopper into separate hoppers and chutes by vertical diaphragms or partitions. In practice it willbe found convenient to arrange separate chutes slightly apart; buta continuous structure divided by partitions would be sufficient to make a series of chutes.

The swinging gate H, which regulates the discharge of the sand, has a weighted lever or arm I, attached to its front, which tends to keep it closed when not in use. When it is desired to open the gate H, it is done by means of a cord, '5, attached to the gate, passing thence around direction-pulleys,and being connected with one end of a lever, L, so that when this lever L is moved or oscillatedin one direction it will open the gate H, and when it is moved in the opposite direction it will release the cord 2' and allow the gate to close. The lever L is moved by cords L, which hang down in front of the apparatus to a point within reach of the workmen. This lever L also serves to set the feed-roller J in operation when the gate is open,or stop it when the gate is closed, in the following manner: The rollersJ are made in lengths each equal to the length of the section of the chute over which it stands. These rollers are loosely mounted upon a shaft, J, which extends the entire length of the apparatus. Friction-clutches are fitted at each of the divisions M, so that any one or all of the feed-rollers may be set in motion or stopped at will. In the present case I have shown the ordinary conical friction-clutches, the portion vz,which forms the hollow cone,being fixed inside the roller J The driving-conen is fitted upon a feather, 0, on the shaft J, so that it rotates with the shaft, and may be caused to.

slide in or out of contact with the hollow cone it, thus driving the feed-roller or allowing it to remain stationary. The sliding cone in is operated by a clutch-lever, I which is bent at right-angles and pivoted or journaled to a fixed beam with an extension, 1', which forms a nut fitting upon a screw, r. The lever L, before described, is fixed upon one end of this U screw, as shown in Fig. 3, and when one end of the lever is pulled down by its cord L the screw will operate to move the part r and arm 1) in one direction, so as to disengage the clutch, and when pulled in the other direction the screw will move the arm so as to cause the clutch to engage.

In order to supply the receiver or hopper G with sand above those parts of the chute by arms or levers T, Figs. 1 and 2. These valves serve to open and close passages Pin the bottom of a horizontal trough, O, into which the sand is delivered by an elevator, N. The sand is carried along the trough O by means of a horizontal traveling belt, S, having scrapers or projections Q fixed to it, and by these projections the sand, which is delivered into the trough by the elevator N, is distributed from one end to the other of the trough. It will be seen that when either section of the chute A is to be used it will only be necessary to open the gate H, throw the clutch a a into gear,so as to operate the feedrollers J, and at the same time move the valve or gate T, corresponding with the section, so as to open the discharge-passages of the trough 0, when the sand will be delivered to that portion of the apparatus. Each section of the apparatus is provided with a similar 1 mechanism, and they are therefore independent of each other. Any sand which may fall out of the flasks E will be caught upon a horizontal traveling belt, V, below the flasks and carriages, and will be carried upon it and delivered into the receiver WV. From this receiver the elevator N takes its supply and delivers it into the horizontal trough O, as before described. It will be manifest thatvarions modifications of the mechanism for operating or stopping the different sections of the chute may be made, which will readily suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art, but I have here shown a mechanism which is very satisfactory in practice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. A molding or core-making apparatus consisting of a hopper and a discharge-chute inclosed on all sides, the said chute extending downward from the hopper-bottom in an approximately-vertical direction, whereby the sand is discharged into the molds or upon the core by gravitation, substantially as described.

2. A molding apparatus consisting of one or more vertical and jointed chutes through which sand is delivered from a hopper or receiver above for making molds, in combination with a horizontal trough situated above the receiver, having a perforated bottom and controlling-gates, and a horizontally-moving belt, with lugs or projections moving along said trough, substantially as herein described.

3. A molding apparatus consisting of a jointed chute, with a sand-feed mechanism and sand-receiver, in combination'with two or more chutes, and a horizontal supply-trough with a perforated bottom and gates, whereby two or more independent sections maybe IIC hopper or receptacle at the top, in combina gate, and a mechanism whereby the gate may 10 tion with feed-rollers mounted loosely upon. be opened and the rollers set in. motion simula driving-shaft, and clutch mechanisms by taneously, substantially as herein described.

which the rollers may be engaged or disen- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 5 gaged, substantially as herein described. hand.

5.-A molding apparatus consisting of two RICHARD SAVAGE. or more independent chutes, and a supply -\/Vit11esses. hopper'or receptacle at the top, in combina- HOLLAND SMITH, tion with feed-rollers and a hinged swinging S. H. NOURSE. 

